Roller-blind shutter.



No. 885,236. PATENT'ED APR. 21, 1908.

' W. F. POLMER.

ROLLER BLIND SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN..24, 1907.

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ROLLER BLIND SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1907.

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W. F. FOLMER.

ROLLER BLIND SHUTTER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.24,1907.

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amm a UNITED STATES PATENT orirron.

WILLIAM F. FOLMER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE 'ASSIGNMENTS, TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ROLLER-BLIND SHUTTER.

Specification 01E Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

' Application filed January 24, 1907. Serial No. 353,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Foniinn,

-new and useful Im rovements in Roller- Blind Shutters; and dohereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact descri tion of the same, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings, forming apart of the specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon,

My resent invention relates to improvements in photogra hic shutters, and more especially to that c ass commonly known as focal plane shutters employing a flexible curtain having suitable apertures adapted to move across the field of the lens to produce the desired exposures, and its object is to provide improvements in the mechanism .for controlling the movements of the curtain, and also to rovide improvements in the construction o and mode of applying the roller supporting and curtain. operating mechanism whereb these arts may be employed interchangeably on s iutters of different dimen sions.

To these and other ends the invention con.

sists in certain improvements and combinations of'parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. 3

- In the accompanying drawings: Figure lis an elevation of a photogra hic shutter constructed in accordance wit my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of shutters of difierent dimensionsv showing the mode of applying the roller supports and curtain operating mechanism thereto. Fig. 5 is a view of the shutter similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but on an enlarged scale, the roller supports and: curtain-operating devices being removed to illustrate the manner in which the casing is cut away to receive them. the plates carrying the-roller supports and curtain operating and controlling mechanism,

the parts being shownin normal position. Fig. 7 shows the relative arrangement of the parts of the curtain'controlling devices immediately after an exposure. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7, showing a safety device or check for preventing rebounding of the curtain after each exposure.

Fig. 6 is a view of the under side of p the rollers.

Fig; 9 is a view of the curtain unwound from Fig. 10 is. a detail view of a device for indicating the width of the o ening in thecurtain which will cross the fie d of the lens onthe'next exposure, and Figs. 11 and 12 are viewsof the exterior of the plate su porting the roller and indicator, showing tliie escapement for the actuatin sprin Similar referencenumera s in t e several figures indicate similar parts.

Shutters constructed iii-accordance with the present invention are especially adapted to be arran ed substantially in or parallel to the focal plane of the lens of cameras and a similar apparatus, although. of course it will be understood that it may be placed in difierent positions for cutting OK the light from the lens, or for controlling the exposures of sensitized materials. The shutter shown inthe present form of the invention comprises, generally, a casing 1 having a frame 2therein for defining the exposure aperture, and having curtain rollers 3 and 4 mounted in the o posite ends thereof, the flexible curtain or b 1nd 5 having its ends attached tothese rollers and adapted to be unwound from the roller 3 and wound upon the roller 4 under the action of a springfi in effecting the exposures, this curtain actuating springin the present instance bei'ng'inclosed within the roller 4, one end of the spring being attached .to the roller 4, and its other end'is attached to the supshaft 7. This shaft has one end journaled in a bearing late 8 in one order that the speed of the curtain may be adjusted as desired. This is accomplished in the present instance by providing a milled head 10 on the shaft exteriorto the casing,

and also providing an offset stop or projec- 1 c tion 11 on the shaft arranged to cooperate with a spring-operated escapement 12, the latter being p voted on the plate 9 and having pallets 13 and 14 arranged to alternately em; gage the projection '11 as the escapenient is 95 rocked to permit unwinding movement of the shaft by a step-by-step movement, the escapement bein so constructed as to permit the shaft to e freely turned in a direction to wind the spring, and the escapement 1 0- operating automatically to retain the shaft from unwinding.

The different tensions on the curtain-actuating spring determine the s eed of the movement of the curtain in ro ucing the exposures, and it is preferable to provide an ap propriate device for indicating the different tensions on the spring in order that the speed of exposure may be known revious to an exposure, the device shown 1n Fig. 6 being employed in the present instance, embodying a toothed member 15 fixed on the roller shaft 7 and arranged to cooperate with a corres ondingly recessed disk 16 pivoted "on the un er side of the late 9, one of the teeth 16 formed between t e recesses and ad'acentto the toothed member when in normal position being so formed as to constitute a Geneva stop'to prevent initial winding in the wrong direction and also overwinding, this disk being provided with numerals or other charac-v ters appropriate to designate thediflerent exposures, and these characters are arranged to register with a sight aperture 17 in the plate 9.

The mechanism just described-normally operates the roller 4. to unwind the curtain from the roller 3 and carry the ex osure ap ertures therein across the field o the lens, and the device for controlling the movement of the curtain preferably 0 erates on -the roller 3 to control .the unwin ing movement thereoflthe winding effort of the roller 4 ro-' ducin a tension on the'curtain that wil retain the curtain taut between the spool and across the exposure aperture.

The curtain-controlling devices employed in the present embodiment of the invention are shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, and are carried b the upper plate 18 which is adapted to be tted on the side of the casing above the lower plate 9. The side of the casing is cut away, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5 at 18 to accommodate the various working parts about to be described, while adjacent thereto is provided an inner reinforcing block 19* also recessed at 20 for the same purpose and useful as a guide for the curtain 1n its various movements. The plate 18 has a bearing 19 for one end of the shaft 20 of the roller 3, the other end of the said shaft being suitably j ournaled in the opposite side of the shutter casing, the shaft 20 beingprovided with a pinion 21 arranged to cooperate with a master gear 22 by means of which the operation o the curtain is controlled. This gear in the present instance is provided with a pair of diametrically-opposite projections 23 and 24 projecting laterally from its inner face, and adapted to cooperate with a suitable controlling device embodying1 an escapfment in the present instance, aving a yo e 25 provided with the guiding ortions 26 and 27 secured to and guided on t e late 18 so as to reciprocate transversely o the axis ofth'e master gear, a shoulder 28 on the yoke being arranged to normally rest in the path of the projections 23 and 24 of the master gear as the latter is turned by the roller 3, a spring 29 normally operating on the escapement to hold the said shoulder in the path of the said projections to arrest the' movement of the master gear at such points that the imperforate portions of the curtain will cover t e exposure opening of the shutter between the instantaneous or automatically timed exposures, and will center the opening for the time exposure. This yoke 25 is provided with a cam surface 30 leading to the shoulder 28 for permitting a ratchet movement of the projections 23 and 24 past the shoulder 28 during the reverse movement of the master gear for winding the curtain upon the roller 3 preparato to the desired exposure or exposures, whi e movement of;

the master gear in the opposite directions present instance, a latch or etent being arranged to engage behind one of the project1ons on the master gear after it has passed .a given point and thus prevent reverse movement of the master gear. This device in the present instance is composed of a cross arm 31 rigidly attached to the escapement and provided with a shoulder 32 arranged to rest in the path of one of the pro- JGCUOIISIOII the master gear while the esca ement is 111 actuated posltion, as shown in 1g. 7, and a fin er 33 rojecting laterally from this arm an provi ed with a laterally-ofiset latch 34 arranged to be deflected-by one of the projections on the master gear in moving into'engagement with the shoulder 32, the latch at that time movin behind the projection and confinin the latter between the latch and the sho der 32 of the escapement, and when the escapement is released andreturns to normal position under action of the extending through the plate 18 to which it is I30 riveted to serve as a fastening for the cylinder, and to provide a connection exterlorly of the plate 18 for the usual bulb tube.

A piston 37 is fitted into'this cylinder and is arranged to actuate the lever 38, the latter being pivoted to the plate 18 at 39 and provided with a finger 40 arranged to move the escapement into actuated position against the action of the spring 29, by engagement with the plate formin the shoulder 32. In order to permit manna operation of the shutter also, a suitable operating projection 41 is preferably provided on the lever 38, and extending throu '1' a-slot 42 in the plate 18 to the exterior o the shutter 'c asin liftin of this projection serving to carry t eshou der 28 of the escapement oiit of the path of the projection 23 and permit rotation 'of- "the master gear until the projection 23 just released en ages the shoulder 32 of the escapement. he ratio -of gearing between the master gear and the roller 3, of course, would be determined by the length of curtain to be carried across the field of the lens at each exposure, the ratio being such in the present instance that a sufficient amount of the curtain will be fed at each half revolution of the gear 22, but this may be varied to suit different requirements.

In order to enable the operator to determine the width of the aperture in the curtain that will cross the field of the lens at the next exposure, it is preferable to employ a suitable indicator, the device shown in thefpresent instance for serving this purpose embod ing a disk 43 j'ournaled in the under side 0 the plate 18 and having characters thereon for appropriately indicating the characterof the next exposure, these characters being ar ranged to register with a sight aperture 44 in the plate 18, and this disk may be operated by any of the curtain-controlling mechanism described, it being turned in the present instance by means of a pinion 45 on the master ear. i g In manufacturing shutters of the type described in I diiferent sizes to accommodate films, plates or sensitized materials of diflerent sizes, or to adapt themto cameras of different sizes, the cost of manufacture may be materially reduced by so constructing the plates 9 and 18 and their connected parts that they may be applied interchangeably to shutter casings of different sizes, and Fi s. 3 and 4 illustrate a mode of constructing t 1886 parts that will enable them to be made of ample size, and they may be also applied to mmparatively small shutters without change, and consists in arranging the indicator disk 16 at the upper left hand corner'of the lower plate 9, and arranging the motor 35 and the supporting nipple thereon at the lower right hand corner of the upper plate 18, and cutthe upper plate and the upper edge of the disk 16 on the lower plate so that these parts may be brought together very closely, and the scale or table 47, which is preferably arranged between the. plates 9 and 18 for facilitating selection of the appropriate exposure has its upper and lower edges cut on ines corresponding to those of the lower and upper edges of the plates 18 and. 9 respectively, so that it may. be fitted compactly between the upper and lower plates.

In preparing the shutter for an exposure, the handle 48 secured to the shaft of the master gear is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, winding the curtain on "the roller 3 until the character indicating the aperture of the desired 'width is visible through the sight aperture 44,- the master gear being turned during this operation in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 causing the projections thereon to cooperate with the cam surface 30 of the escapement to operate the latter and permit these projections' to engage the shoulder 28 of the escapement and thus normally prevent unwinding movement of the roller 3 under the action of its actuating spring. The shutter is released by lifting movement of the lever 38, either under the influence of the piston 37 of the motor or by the manually-operated projection 41, moving the es'capement to actuated position as shown in Fig. 7, the shoulder 28 of the escapement being moved out of the path of the projections of the master gear and the shoulder 32 being moved into a position to engage the projection at the opposite side of the gear and thereby arrest the movement thereof, the latch 34 engaging behind the projection after striking the arresting shoulder to prevent its rebounding. The movement of the master gear 'ust described will permit rotation of the rollers suflicient to move a slit of the curtain completely across the field of the lens in making the rapid or automatically timed exposures, and

v i I device or check described, and furthermore not only insurcs'maintenance ofthe proper cooperative relation of the parts composing the mechanism of the shutter, but these parts are so mounted that they may be bodily applied interchangeably to shutters of different dimensions, thereby insuring their ting the edges of these two plates obliquely, l correct operation, and cheapcning the cost of or on aline extending between the part 36 on the shutters as all of the parts may be proed to cooperate with said member, for controllin the movements of the curtain, and a chec cooperating with said member and controlling device for preventing retrograde movement of the curtain after an exposure.

2. In a photographic shutter, the combination with a suitable casing, curtain rollers mounted therein, a curtain arranged tobe operated by said rollers and having a suitable exposure aperture, and a curtain actuating spring operating on one of said rollers, of a member operatively connected to one of said rollers, an escapement arranged to cooperate with said member for arresting the movement of the curtain, and a check cooperating with the said member to prevent retrograde movement of the curtain after an exposure.

3. In a hotographic shutter, the combination Wit a suitable casing, curtain rollers mounted therein, a curtain arranged to be operated by said rollers and having a suitable exposure aperture, and a curtain actuating spring operatively connected to one of the rollers, of a member operatively connected to one of said rollers, an esca ement arranged to cooperate with said mem or to arrest the movement of the curtain, and a latch on one of the arts arranged to automatically engage the other part to prevent retrograde movement of the curtain after an exposure.

4. In a 1photographic shutter, the combination wit 1 a suitable casing, curtain rollers mounted therein, a curtain passing over said rollers and having an exposure aperture therein, and a curtain actuating spring operating on one of said rollers, of a gear operatively connected to the roller opposite to the one provided with said actuating spring, and having projections thereon, an escapement having, a shoulder thereon arranged to cooperate with the projections of said gear to arrest the movement of the curtain, and a latch on the escapement arranged to 006 erate with said projections to retain them in cooperative relation with the shoulder of the escapement to prevent retrograde movement of the curtain.

5. In a photographic shutter, the combinationwit a suitable casing, curtain rollers mounted therein, a curtain arran ed to be operated by the said rollers and having a suitable exposure aperture, and a curtain actuating spring adapted to operate one of said rollers, of curtain controlling mechanism embodying a rotatable member operatively connected to the curtain roller opposite to that operated on by said spring, and provided with a projection, an escapement having a shoulder thereon adapted to cooperate with said projection to arrest the movement of the curtain, and a latch arranged to cooperate with said rojection to retain it in cooperative relation with said shoulder and prevent retro rade movement of the curtain.

6. In a photographic shutter, the combination with a suitable casing, curtain rollers mounted therein, a curtain arranged to be operated by said rollers, and suitable curtain operating means, of a controlling member arranged tov operate with the curtain, and having a projection thereon, an escapement having a ortion thereon arranged to cooperate wit said projection to arrest the movement of the curtain, and a latch arranged on the escapement and adapted to cooperate with the projection on the controlling member for preventing retrograde movement of the curtain after an exposure. j

7. In a photographic shutter, the combination with a suitable casing, curtain rollers mounted therein, a curtain arranged to be operated by the said rollers, and suitable means for operating'the curtain, of a curtain controlling and setting member arranged to operate with the curtain and having a projection thereon, an escapement having a shoulder arranged to cooperate with said projection when the escapement is in actuated position to arrest the movement of the said member, and a latch carried by the escapement arranged to be engaged by said projection when the escapement is in actuated position to prevent retrograde movement of the said member, and arranged to be free of said pro ection when the escapement occupies a normal position.

8. In a photographic shutter, the com-- bination with a suitable casing having curtain rollers therein, a curtain arranged to cooperate with said rollers, and suitable curtain operating means, of a curtain controlling and setting member operatively connected to one of the rollers, and having projections thereon, an escapement having a shoulder thereon arranged to cooperate with one of said projections when the escapement is in normal position to retain the curtain from operation, and provided with a second shoulder arranged to cooperate with a projection when the escapement is in actuated position to arrest the movement of the said member after an exposure has been effected, and a latch on the escapement arranged to be engaged by one of the projections of the said member when the escapement isin actuated position to prevent retrograde movement of the curtain after'an exposure has been effected.

9. In a photographic shutter, the combination with a suitable casing having ourtain rollers therein, and a curtain arranged assess to be operated thereby, of a curtain-controliing member 0 eratively' connected to one of the rollers an having a projection thereon,

an escapeinent having a portion adapted to cooperate with said projection when the eseapeinent is in actuated position to arrest the movement of said member, and a latch adapted to oooperate with said projection when the esoapement is in actuated position to prevent retrograde movement of said member embodying an arm movable'with the eseapement and yieldable in a direction laterally of the plane of movement of said projection and provided with a laterally turned projeotioinengaging portion.

it) in a roller blind shutter, the combination with a suitable casing, curtain rollers arranged therein and having their ends ournaled in one side of the shutter casing, and a Curtain for said rollers, of upper and lower bearing plates adapted to rovide bearings for the other ends of said ro lers and secured to the side of the casing, an indicator arranged at one side of the lower plate, shutter controlling mechanism carried by the upper plate and embodying a releasing device ar ranged at the side of the plate opposite to that of the lower plate on which theindioator is arranged, the proximate edges of the said plates extending obliquely between the indicator and releasing device.

WILLIAJM F. FOLMER. Witnesses:

CLARENCE A, BATEMAN, ELIZABETH l. Arinmoir, 

